"Well you've got me, so he should be happy now. I'm telling you India, your dad loves me."
She smiled. "Well, as far as he knows we've split up."
Cody stopped in his tracks. "Why would he think that?"
"I made the mistake of telling him I drew rooms for myself in your dream home, and he figured you'd be scared off and leave me. That's what our fight was about the other day."
"Then he'll be surprised to see me still around, I guess," Cody responded, squeezing her hand and starting to walk again. "I assume you stuck up for me then?"
She nodded but blushed, and Cody had a feeling there was more to the story than that. He watched her questioningly until she spoke. "I told him you wouldn't run but then I got a bit scared myself. Especially when you said you wanted to talk about the drawings." Then it was her turn to stop suddenly. "I'd almost forgotten that. Why did you want to talk about them anyway?"
Cody shook his head, not wanting to say that he'd been thinking of building the place with her. He didn't want her to feel guilty about quitting the job now. If Greg offered her the position, he'd bring it up later. "It doesn't matter now, Indie. Like I said before, I can't afford to build the place anyway, but they didn't scare me in the slightest. Although I imagine by the time we'd ever get a place the size you designed built, we might want to change your room into a guest room after all so we can share mine."
India blushed again at the suggestion. "Then I'd probably redesign your room a bit too I think. I gave it a very masculine feel, you know."
Cody laughed. "You can do whatever you want with the place, India. By the way, I'm assuming that pool was for you, too?"
She nodded. "Yep, and I think I might be adding a hot tub on the roof."
"Let's see how we do moving the bed across the field before we start talking about carrying a hot tub up onto an imaginary rooftop, okay?" he teased as he squeezed her hand, and they headed for the car.
Chapter 7
"Ooof!" India exclaimed as she suddenly dropped her end of the bed for the umpteenth time in the past few minutes. "I thought you said it wasn't heavy."
"Heavier than I thought," Cody admitted as he let his end go, too. "Maybe we don't need to carry it all the way up the hill, Indie. You can see the stars just as well from right here. I only go there because it's where I want the dream house, and it is slightly higher besides, it's gonna be tricky getting the wheelchair through the field."
"He won't wanna be so close to the road though," India laughed. "We don't need to go all the way, you're right, but a little further would be good."
Cody nodded and picked up his end again, "Ready then?"
"Ready," she replied, retaking her side.
It was another fifteen minutes before they got it far enough that the road couldn't be seen anymore and immediately Cody plopped himself down, sprawling across the bed and reaching for India with his arm. She let him drag her down against him, cuddling into his side.
"Tired?" Cody teased her.
"Not as much as you'd think after being woken up before 4:30 in the morning by some lunatic who thinks that's a good time for moving furniture."
Cody chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Well I'm tired, and I think I'm going to have a nap."
"Here? Now?"
"Yep," he grinned and tightened his grip on her waist, "and I'm not letting you go until I wake up, so you may as well sleep, too."
India started to respond but suddenly her phone began to ring, so she pushed up out of Cody's arms to sit on the edge of the bed and answer it. Cody sat up beside her, studying her face as she spoke to whoever was on the other line.
"Yes, this is India…. What?... Is…I'll be right there."
"Indie, what's wrong?" Cody asked, noticing the color had drained from her face.
She grabbed his sleeve, "My dad's back in the hospital. They said… he's not gonna make it this time, Cody. They want me to come say goodbye."
Cody sat stunned for a moment, pulling her tight against himself for a second before standing.
"C'mon then," he said. "Let's get you over there as fast as possible."
Cody felt India's shaking through their joined palms as they entered the hospital together. Cody led her up to the desk and got the information they needed to find him in the building.
"Is he awake?" she asked the nurse.
"He wasn't, but he's not in a coma. You should be able to wake him and speak to him," the doctor replied. "I don't know if he'll respond to you or not. He was responding to the doctor when he was first admitted, but it comes and goes. He's having trouble talking."
"How long does he have?" Cody asked and felt India's grip on his hand increase as she waited for the answer.
"Hours probably; a day if you're lucky."
India nodded, looking stronger than she felt. She was pretty sure she'd have collapsed by now if Cody hadn't been there with her. The doctor walked away, and she let Cody lead her over to the room, but she stopped before they went in.
"Cody," she whispered. "I didn't speak to him since our fight."
Cody pulled her into a hug. "But you're going to now, Indie. You're gonna go in there and let him see that you're happy now because you don't have that silly job anymore and you've got me to take care of you. That's what he wanted."
"Yeah."
"Do you want me to wait out here?"
India shook her head. "Not right now. I need you. I'm scared of what he's going to look like."
Cody nodded and felt her take a deep breath and then free herself from his embrace, though her grip on his hand was still there.
"I'm ready," she said as they stepped into the room.
True to the doctor's word, Wayne was asleep when they entered. It looked like he'd shrunk since Cody had seen him the other day, and his skin was pale. He was hooked up to an IV drip. He squeezed India's hand quickly before letting go so she could go sit in the chair by the bed and hold her dad's hand instead.
"Dad?" she whispered. "It's me. Cody's here, too."
Wayne's eyes fluttered open, and India heaved a sigh of relief that he knew she was there.
"Indie…" Wayne spoke slowly. Cody could see it was painful for him to talk, but he was happy he'd acknowledge her.
"Yeah, it's me. Do you need anything, Dad?"
Wayne closed his eyes again for a moment and then opened them and looked at Cody, speaking slowly again, "Boyfriend, yet?"
India wiped the tears that were suddenly clouding her vision with the back of her hand and gave a chuckle, "Yeah, yeah, Dad, He is. I'm happy with him, Dad. I quit my job, too. Cody's gonna help me find a job that I like. He's gonna take care of me."
"Good."
Cody stepped closer and whispered to India, "Do you want me to leave you two alone?"
She shook her head and whispered back, "Actually, can you stay with him for a moment? I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?"
"To talk to the doctor. They said he might have a day left. We can still take him to see the stars."
"They probably won't allow that, Indie."
"Why not? If he's gonna die anyway… He hates places like this. I don't want him to be in the hospital. Trust me, Cody. I can be very persuasive when I want to."
Cody saw a look of determination come over her face, and he knew the hospital staff was in trouble if they tried to mess with her plan. "Okay, go then. I'll call you if anything changes while you do your thing. Good luck."
"Thanks," she responded, giving him a quick kiss before turning back to her dad and retaking his hand.
"Dad? I've gotta go talk to the doctor for a moment. I'll be right back. Cody's gonna stay here with you."
Wayne opened his eyes again and nodded that he understood. India gave her dad a quick kiss on the cheek and then exited the room. Wayne looked up at Cody and then beckoned him to come close, so Cody sat on the chair by his bed.
"You…" Wayne began and then started coughing. Cody helped him with a sip of water, and Wayne tried again. "You look
after her."
"I will," Cody promised.
"I'm dying. She'll need you."
"I won't let her down," Cody promised.
"She wants to marry one day."
Cody smiled. "So you've said. It's a bit soon to talk about that with her I think but one day, I'd like that, too."
"If… if you let her down, I will haunt you," Wayne promised.
Cody chuckled. "You don't need to worry, Sir. I love her."
"Good. Does she know that?"
"She does. I've told her."
"Good. Tell, tell my other kids, I love them, too."
A moment later the door to the room opened again, and the doctor returned with India on his heels. Cody wasn't dumb. He could see the anger burning in India's eyes and he knew that, as of yet, the doctor hadn't agreed to let Wayne out of the hospital. It was a dirty trick, he thought, on the doctor's behalf: storming into the room like that so that India would have to shut up in front of her dying father. He smiled because he knew as well as any that India would have some tricks up her sleeve, too.
"Dad," she said immediately, "if they let you out, would you like to see the stars tonight? Cody and I set up a bed in his field."
Wayne nodded, his eyes lighting up at the idea while the doctor glared at India.
"I'm sorry," the doctor apologized to Wayne, "but I'm afraid that won't be possible."
If he'd expected Wayne to tell his daughter it was okay, he was sorely mistaken, Cody thought with an amused look as he watched in silence. Wayne had always enjoyed watching India confidently stand up for herself, and India would have no problem doing so now in the presence of her dying father. Even if Wayne didn't get to see stars, he'd get to witness his daughter fighting strongly for her beliefs and for her father. He'd love it, and Cody did, too. Sure enough, India whirled around, hands on hips, and looked the doctor in the eyes. "Not only is it possible," she replied, "it's likely to happen. You have no right to tell my dad he has to stay here."
"If your dad leaves this hospital right now, he'll die."
"Yes, we've established that," India retorted. "Will he live if he stays here?"
"Well, no, but perhaps he'll have longer."
India gave a laugh of disbelief. "Longer? You told us he has a day at the most. What's that supposed to mean? He might have a few extra hours?"
"Exactly. We do whatever we can here to keep our patients alive for as long as possible."
India looked at the man like he was crazy and then turned to her dad.
"C'mon, Dad. Let's get you outta here."
"Don't make me call security, Ma'am," the doctor said quickly.
"Lemme ask you something," India snapped at the doctor. "When it's your turn, do you want to spend your last day in a hospital?"
The doctor hesitated and before he could respond, India turned back to Wayne.
"You heard the doctor," she said softly. "Do you still want to see the stars tonight?"
Wayne nodded, and India turned again, this time to Cody to ask one more question.
"Cody, do you think the newspaper would print the story of how they treat their patients here? I think people should maybe know ahead of time so they can have their loved ones transferred to hospitals that do help them fulfill their dying wishes."
Cody grinned. "For sure. You might even get the evening news to run a story."
The doctor rolled his eyes but stormed out of the room promising to 'see what he could do.' Cody knew that was just jargon for 'get some supervisors and security to back him up,' but it didn't matter. As soon as he left, India was motioning for Cody to help her get her dad into the wheelchair. Wayne had lost a lot of weight, and Cody lifted him easily. He motioned to the medicine that was dripping into Wayne on an IV.
"What's it for?"
Wayne replied in a hoarse voice, "Painkillers. Make me sleepy."
"Can we remove them?" Cody asked, looking to both India and her father for an answer. They both nodded.
"Us Fishers are tough," Wayne said. "Don't need them."
"Right," Cody said, quickly unhooking the equipment. Then he glanced at the heart monitor.
"When I unplug this, it might trigger an alarm," he told India. "Keep ahead of me and open the doors so we can get out of here fast."
She nodded, and Cody glanced at Wayne. "Ready for me to run?"
He nodded again, a smile playing around his lips.
"Alright," Cody said. He unplugged the monitor, and they took off as quickly as possible. A few minutes later, the trio was outside on the sidewalk.
"It was almost too easy," India frowned.
Cody laughed. "Yep. You know what I think? I think that doctor actually took your question to heart, the one about how he'd want to spend his last hours, and delayed contacting security, giving us enough time to escape. That way it's not on him for letting us go."
"You think?"
"I do."
She smiled. "Maybe he wasn't so bad, if you're right about that. Well, where now? We'll never get the wheelchair in your truck."
"No, let's get further from the hospital and then we'll call a wheelchair accessible taxi to take us to the field."
India glanced at her dad and Cody and hesitated before speaking.
"Maybe, maybe you could take your truck and meet us there? They might tow it if you leave it parked at the hospital beyond visiting hours. I can take my dad in the taxi."
Cody knew what she was really asking. She wanted some alone time with her father before he passed away, and he nodded to her.
"Good idea but let me just get you both somewhere far enough where they can't come looking for you again and call you that cab, okay?"
"Thanks."
Cody would've liked to have given India even more time alone with her father, but he knew he had to meet them at the field right away. India wouldn't be able to push the wheelchair over the rough terrain on her own, let alone lift her dad into the bed.
He met her by the low fence in front of the field, and they struggled together to lift the chair and her father over it. Cody saw Wayne wince a few times, but he didn't complain. The route was bumpy, but they managed. It seemed they had mutually agreed to stay silent until they reached their destination, as none of them said anything. Once they had Wayne in the bed, India sat down in the wheelchair beside him and took his hand.
"Are you okay, Dad?" she asked quietly.
"Better than okay," he told her hoarsely but lovingly. "I'm stargazing with my favorite girl again."
"Only the stars aren't out yet. They won't be for hours."
"They will be," Wayne responded.
Cody squatted down beside the wheelchair to get India's attention.
"Indie," he said gently. "Do you want me to go and get you some lunch?"
She nodded, and it was her way of telling him she needed more time still.
"What would you like?"
"It doesn't matter."
Cody turned to Wayne and offered him the same, but Wayne shook his head, struggling through his reply, "No, thank-you, Boy, but I can't eat anything now."
"What about something to drink?"
Wayne shook his head again and waved Cody off. Cody took the hint and gave India a quick kiss before leaving. Once Cody was gone, India turned back to her dad.
"So," she said, feeling a bit awkward and wondering what to say to someone who was dying. "This is where Cody and I want to live one day. It's nice, huh?"
"You will," Wayne told her, sitting up in the bed.
"I hope so. He didn't mind, Dad, about the house designs."
"I was wrong. You can be stubborn, India, like me. I lost your mom because of my temper. Don't do the same. Use the stubbornness to fight for your relationship with him."
India nodded. "I will, Dad. Cody's all I've got. I'm not letting him get away."
"Not all. Your mom and siblings love you, Indie."
"Maybe, but they aren't here for me like you've been, Dad. It's okay though; I'm happy with Cody."
"India's perfect boy," her dad smiled.
"Not quite perfect," India corrected. "He drinks far too much fancy coffee."
"Fancy?"
"Yeah, that's what he calls it. He doesn't like the regular stuff. I bet you dollar to doughnuts when he gets back here with our lunch he's got some. It is pretty good actually. That's how I met him, you know: in the coffee shop. I was letting my temper get the best of me, yelling at the workers, and Cody… well I don't know what he did. He just introduced himself and convinced me to go stargazing with him. I don't know why."
"I met your mom in a coffee shop."
India looked at him in surprise. "Did you? I never knew that. You always loved her, didn't you, Dad? Even after she left you?"
Wayne nodded. "I shouldn't have let her go, but my stubborn streak stopped me going after her and then too much time had passed. But you, India, I'd never let you go. I've always been so proud of you."
"Have you?" she asked suddenly, her tone changing. She wasn't sure she should bring it up at this time, but she had to know the truth, and this was probably her last chance. "Because lately when I visit you, you just rag on me about my personal life, and I feel like you're disappointed with me."
"Not disappointed," Wayne smiled at her, giving her hand a squeeze. "Never disappointed, India. Your visits make me so happy. Not a lot of residents in the home had their daughters visit as often as you came. I was so proud of you. Bragged about you to everyone. India, I've known for a long time my time would be up soon, and I wanted you to have someone to lean on when I'm gone. It's because I love you, that's all. Never, ever, think I was disappointed in you."
"I love you, too, Dad," India responded, kissing his cheek. Some movement across the field caught her eye, and she grinned. "Cody's come back."
"Did you win the bet? Does he have fancy coffee?" her dad teased.
India chuckled. "Of course he does, Dad. He always does."
Cody reached them a few moments later and handed India a fancy coffee and a salad with Italian dressing. She smiled gratefully, and Cody sat down on the edge of the bed, glancing at Wayne.
"Sir, I know you said you didn't want anything, but you really should try a sip of this coffee. You wouldn't believe how good it is."
Spicy Coffee, Sweet Love (A Contemporary Young Adult Romance) Page 8
